CRUNCHER

The only people I feel sorry for are those genuinely married to a Thai, perhaps with a family. They need some relief before there is talk of a new visa.

I don't understand why you should feel sorry for people "genuinely married" to a Thai. There's a non-O visa to take care of them. If they don't meet the financial requirements to get one of those then there is still the option of a multiple non-O to visit family. You would think that anyone deciding to marry a Thai and have children with one would investigate the visa situation first.

You have a point. It is just that quite a lot of these guys get quite stressed. These hard economic times have hit some of them hard and where meting visa financial requirements a few years ago was easy, it is now problematic. Perhaps they are not going about things the right way, but for some it seems to affect family life. "Tourists" can leave any time, but for a man with a family the future is (or seems to them to be) uncertain.

For the record my wife is a farang and I have no personal axe to grind.

Good post, it would make perfect sense to introduce a visa like this.

Unfortunately this would be far too logical tor the Thai government to even consider. Why solve a problem with ease when you can do it the hard way. It's not the Thai way of doing things.

The Thai's don't have a problem to solve, why should they change anything.

That's right. The people that have a problem are those who do not qualify for a full time visa You know the ones? The ones who think they have a God given right to live in Thailand and if they can't it is because the Thais are racist and xenophobic. The ones who expect Thailand to throw open its doors in a way few other countries in the world would do. Try living as a long term tourist for a few years in USA, Europe, Australia. Even closer to home, those who would qualify for Malaysia's MM2H would qualify in Thailand - the rest tough luck.

Sorry. Its a hard world, but if you want to live here you must respect the local people; their laws and customs. Thais do not have to bend to suit farang; it is the other way round.

The only people I feel sorry for are those genuinely married to a Thai, perhaps with a family. They need some relief before there is talk of a new visa.

Forget about a country's sovereign rights to control its borders. In essence what you say is: "I have enough money, I should be allowed to live anywhere I want".

That is not what "I say." It is what the Thai government is saying. If Thailand is going to engage in "social engineering" and wants to do something about "perpetual tourists" because they are a "security problem committing crimes all over the place" and are "low-life-poor scum of the earth" (that is not my opinion, but I think it is what officials think), then I just presented a solution to their crazy way of thinking about tourists. The solution will not work, however, if they raise the money bar too high for the new visa and only focus on rich tourists who can pay big money to stay. The cost of the "pay to stay" visa should be reasonable to meet the financial situation of most income levels., not only the rich.

The idea that a tourist is someone who remains in a country for along period of time is, in my opinion, not correct.

A tourist is someone who visits and then returns,whence they came. In the UK, if you apply for a Visit Visa (pretty much the equivalent of a Tourist Visa for Thailand), you will be expected to leave when it expires. Should you wish to apply for another one you will have to go back to your country of residence in order to do so. You will also not be expected to spend more than 6 months out of any 12 in the UK and would need to provide an explanation, and evidence to back it up, as to how you were going to support yourself during your visit. You will also have to explain, should you wish to stay for the entire 6 month validity of the visa, how come you can afford to have such a long holiday.

If the evidence or the explanation is deemed to be unsatisfactory, you don't get your visa (or your visa fee back!).

There are other visa categories for people who wish to stay more permanently, both in Thailand and in the UK.

Quite how a country's immigration laws lead you to the conclusion that, somehow, the Thai government believes tourists to be "low-life-poor scum of the earth" when the country encourages tourism by way of it's easy to obtain tourist visa system, (which were free up until April of this year) and provides options and face to face front line staff in offices throughout the country to help you through relatively straightforward longer term visa applications, for those who wish to remain for more than just a holiday, isn't clear.

If they indeed regarded tourists as you seem to think they do, they would have minimum income requirements, require proof of substantial funds etc. before they even issued a tourist visa!

The fact that they've tightened up the regulations on so-called tourists who live permanently in Thailand doesn't really suggest, to me anyway, that they have suddenly formed a low opinion of those people, just that they require them to be more honest about their intentions.

Well said sir.

The World Tourism Organization defines tourists as people "traveling to and staying in places outside their usual environment for not more than one consecutive year for leisure, business and other purposes".

People whose usual environment is Thailand are clearly not tourist.

The Thai position has always been that there is no objections to foreigners living in Thailand as long as they have a visa appropriate to their stay. Nothing wrong with that. It is the position of most countries.

Signed, but I doubt it will do any good.

3134 so far. We need to employ the Red Shirts on this. Perhaps 3.5 million might do it.

I am surprised to read about all these Thai ladies having problems with overseas immigration. From my reading of the Visa forum I thought it was only Thai Immigration that was racist and xenophobic.

There is no such thing as Hong Kong nationality. Hong Kong is part of China. I presume you mean Right of Abode.

If you are of Chinese race you can get a "SAR passport" and your child will be deemed of Chinese race as your descendant. Your child will then be eligible for an "SAR Passport" If not then I think you might have problems. Hong Kong ID Card may follow. The advice to ensure your name is on the birth certificate is excellent.

As regards your UK passport, if you hold a BN(O), I do not think you can pass it on. If it is a full British passport you should be able to pass it on unless you yourself were born outside of UK.

These are complicated issues and my knowledge is sketchy. You need to go to the right place for answers. I suggest next time you are in Hong Kong you visit Immigration Department (who deal with HKID cards and passport issues on behalf of PRC) and the British Consulate in respect of your British passport. Get answers from the horses mouth (and the sooner the better).

This return or onward ticket is becoming a pain in the arse, I met it last year, I booked a single to Manila from Bangkok, paid for it, then at check in they would not let me fly because it was a single and I could show no onward booking. I explained I had not yet decided how long I was staying in the Philippines or which airport I would fly back from. They still refused, so no flight, and no refund.

I have enjoyed free wheeling around Asia for many years, now it seems I have to plan everything in advance.

That was to meet Philippines Government requirements that you do not overstay whilst there. Nothing new really. I had to show the return ticket,bank statements and a letter from my employer (but not hotel bookings) to get a 59 day Philippines tourist visa and that was 10 years ago.

But what this does show is that Thailand is not different to many other countries. I can't see why people are winging. Must be the ones who believe the world in general and Thailand in particular owes them a living.

I don't get why everyone is so concerned. The guy is obviously a verbally abusive bum who deserves what he gets. I don't care if I'm in Thailand or Germany or my country but when I see a bum like this that yells profanities at people trying to help, I take a b-line around him and think "why don't the police get this loser off the streets?"

I say if the guy is drunk walking around with his woody hanging out yelling at people and begging then the police should simply throw him in jail with the rest of the bums. They would if it was a Thai guy so what's the difference.

I understand all you people being concerned and being a fellow human being and that's great as we should do but it also seems most of you are trying to pass the buck. Saying that the German community etc. should deal with him. Why should they? Why don't you do it (I see some people have and that's great) but if you are going to join this topic and have legitimate concerns then do it yourself anonymously.

To me, he is a niucense and if he approached me with that verbal bum like crap I wouldn't hesitate to smack him in the face.

This guy obviously had a life at one time and then lost it. He is after all in Pattaya so say no more. If you folks want to help someone in need then visit the orphanage or the battered woman in Rayong or some poor Thai people and help them.

Sorry but I just have no time for folk like this. I agree that the UK story was sad and should never have happened but I don't think it would again. When a faring like this bum is taken away they are supposed to contact the persons embassy so the best thing you could do for this guy the way you are thinking is bring the police or even the VP to him HOWEVER maybe he prefers to be a bum in a warm country with beautiful woman walking around and cheap food and drinks rather then be a street bum in Germany with winter coming in so maybe better just to leave him alone and let his fait take effect.

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I largely agree. On one level I have sympathy for a human being who gets himself into this sort of state. On the other "God helps those who help themselves".

There is another aspect to this however. When Thais see this sort of thing on their streets is it any wonder they want to tighten up on visa regulations. One person like this ruins the reputations of thousands of farang who live here decently. Unfair perhaps, but reality.

Hello,

when transfering money from abroad to buy a condo, do you need to ask for the TOR TOR 3 form as soon as the money has been transfered even when you haven't decided yet which condo to buy ?

Or can you ask the TORTOR 3 form anytime late when you have found wichi condo to buy ?

Is this form free ?

Thank you.

Tor Tor 3 is not tied to a particular condo. It is a good idea to get it as soon as possible because the longer you leave it the longer it takes to generate the form. In the case of Bangkok Bank it is generated in Bangkok and faxed to the local branch. If there is an absolute deadline I am not sure. Best check with your bank. Last time I got one I paid an admin charge of 100 baht if I remember correctly.

For those who wonder why Thailand wants to tighten up on visitors here just look at the below thread. I do not know what visa he came here on, but whatever - pretty pathetic. A few like this gets us all a bad name, but you can't really blame Thai authorities when you see things like this.

You might be having trouble if you are not resident for tax purposes.

Try HSBC Invest Direct International. A bit of hassle to set up, you will need to set up an offshore account in Jersey, and rates are a bit higher than UK brokers. Works OK, but not outstanding. I basically found I had no choice. It was the only way I could trade in UK and US stock markets.

If you are in Bangkok go in and see HSBC. If not you will have to do it all on line and by post.

I've just spoken to someone who has a business in the UK and returns there every month for about a week, whilst in the UK this time he wanted to renew his Non Immogration 'O' visa (he's over 50) (was not a retirement visa) and he was asked to provide proof of income backed up with copies of bank statements in the same way the requirement for a retirement visa. It was the Hull consulate he was using, and they told him that this now was a requirement. Is it just the Hull office that is making up its own rules, as the last requirement I read they were asking for last year was a valid lease on a property. At the Birmingham consulate its sufficient for them to see by your passport you are over 50, and the visa is issued in minutes.

First you need to read through most of this thread before posting, this thread is informing people of changes at both Consulates you mention

Summary - Hull you need to be married to a Thai and provide marrage cert translated into English or over 50 and provide proof of income of greater than 900GBP per month, Birmingham is slightly less clear but I would not assume it is as you state above

I only made the post to provide the information regarding someone who had used the Hull consulate in the previous few days.

I would suggest that you do not make assumptions about Birmingham and suggest what I say is not correct unless you have actual knowledge or personal experience of the Birmingham Consulate yourself. The information was based on my own experience at Birmingham recently, where I found the Consulate staff friendly and helpful, and I recieved my Non 'O' visa with no more documetation (other that the application form) than my passport showing I was over 50.

I sometimes wonder why members take the trouble to try to provide information, mainly from their own experience in order to help others, when people like you dismiss it, without having ay personal knowledge yourself. Your 'Know all know nothing' attitude certainly discourages me from bothering to post information which may help others.

I recently got my 12 months visa (retirement) from Birmingham. They wanted proof of GBP900 per month income, but were fairly relaxed about it. As usual friendly, helpful and efficient..

Check out Srilankan. 33k economy; 55k business.Service, food etc very good especially in business.

The only downside is if you are not flexible with your times/dates you might get several hour layover in Colombo. Flexibility can get this down to 2 or 3 hours.

Thanks SurfRider. Very informative.

Troll

If this is going to be a serious relationship, whether by marriage or not, your partner has a right to know something like that. Unless, of course, sex is not to be part of the relationship.

If it is going to "frighten her off" better sooner rather than later.

90 days is the length of time an ex-pat can remain in the country without being taxed on savings if the savings are held offshore, but again its a question of them finding out, I never receive an income tax form relating to anything else but my property, the taxman never asks me how many days I spent in England so I guess its worth a risk if my condition does not improve in the very near future.

TP

In fact you can stay 183 days in any one year, but must average 91 days per year over a 4(?) year period.

My accountant. You would need to confirm the period for averaging. I think it is 4 years, but I have never used it myself.

90 days is the length of time an ex-pat can remain in the country without being taxed on savings if the savings are held offshore, but again its a question of them finding out, I never receive an income tax form relating to anything else but my property, the taxman never asks me how many days I spent in England so I guess its worth a risk if my condition does not improve in the very near future.

TP

In fact you can stay 183 days in any one year, but must average 91 days per year over a 4(?) year period.

My, this certainly seems to be Thai related

It seriously affects (some) Brits living in Thailand and relates, as per OP, to alternatives to paying for health care in Thailand.

For all you people who complain, often in racist terms, about problems in getting visas and extensions of stay in Thailand, you can now see thing from a different perspective. Unless that is you do not want to see. Could it be that Germans do not want Thais in their country? This is the sort of comment (in reverse) you would get if this was a Thai embassy overseas.

It is no good saying that this was Thai staff. An organization's corporate ethics are set at the lowest standards practiced by it's worst employee unless it is corrected. Where was supervisory accountability? This conduct was, it seems, justified to some extent by a German employee. In any event, it is up to the senior management of the embassy to ensure that staff are helpful, efficient and provide quality service.

A few years ago I tried to get an answer to this question when I was in UK. After a dozen phone calls I got a dozen different answers; no one seemed to really know. In the end,however, it seems that once you have been non-resident for tax purposes, you need to be back in UK for 6 months before your regain your eligibility for NH treatment. You can get emergency treatment at casualty departments.

Of course, as has been pointed out, you have some practical options as you have an address in UK. You need to think what the consequences are if you get caught. A bill for medical treatment; you become resident for tax purposes and you get a tax bill? It is up to you.

You could try claiming refugee status next time you go back. These people seem to be eligible for everything from day one. The fact that you have paid your dues all your life counts for nothing as what you have paid has gone to support refugees. Small wonder some people prefer Thailand. At least you know where you stand.

Sometimes I wonder why trolls are banned. This thread is a big laugh. Despite the number of posts pointing out the obvious, some people still take it seriously.

Perhaps that is why is hasn't been closed, although perhaps it should be moved to the "Jokes" forum.

The real shame, however, is that what could be serious issues are trivialized. Which is my main point.

Needed:

- copy of proof of address (utility-, telephone-bill, rental contract, etc.)

Dont have any of those, unfortunately. Oh well, I will just go and do a lot of smiling. Seems to work most times.

Letter needed for: ...... obtaining proof of address from your own Embassy

Hmm. If the British consulate thinks I'm going to pay 200B at immigration for the privilege of then paying another 2500B to the consulate so that they can certify the contents of the 200B letter, they .have another think coming!

The whole point (for me) of going to immigration is to avoid being ripped-off by the consulate!

If you have any repair bill in your name stating your address, it should suffice. I used a Samsung fridge repair bill before and it worked!

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Well! Now you see one of the benefits of corruption in Thailand. These certificates are suposed to be free. When the staff can get 200 baht towards the "welfare fund" , it is amazing how easy such certificates are to get.

I cannot defend this attitude, but next time you feel constrained to complain about corruption here, remember there are two side to every coin.

And which is the cheaper culture?

I would bet a lot that some embassy/consular staff are monitoring this thread. It would be nice to get some comment from them, especially on the reported request from Thai Immigration to change the format of the letters.

Come on guys - look after your nationals!!!

It would seem that the British Consulate has decided that they don't wish to be responsible for proving if evidence provided is real or fake. It would seem that they are well on their way to following the US/Australian Consulate system.

So does the Dutch embassy. Today I got a mail stating they do not issue income statements anymore. One has to make his own statement and they just legalise the signature. Immigration checks the income documentation.

The change was made on request of Immigration. Reason: Too much fraud.

But do you want the Thai Immigration to sniff trough your Yearly Statement as I am not a pension but getting income from investments and Interest from abroad ? I don't think so. I trust my Embassy (up too a certain degree of course with this info), but Thai Immigration.. <deleted> NO.

I understand your feelings, but reality is that any country is entitled to check the background, including finances, of anyone to whom they grant a visa or extension of stay. This is not just the case in Thailand and in some countries these checks are much more strigent. If you want the visa or extensions of stay you just have to go through the hoops, troublesome as this may be.

In this thread we are talking about checking of income for extensions of stay and the proof required. We have to respect that it is the Thai Goverments right to set the standards they require. It is their country. It would be good, however, to know just what is required.

Remember, visas and extensions of stay are not a right; they are a consession granted by the host country at the discretion of the host. Again, this does not apply only to Thailand; it applies to every country in the World.